A Digital Library for Middle Schools: Supporting Authentic Science Investigations

Soloway 95-54205 The Middle Years Digital Library (MYDL) will be an extension of the University of Michigan's Digital Library (UMDL), an NSF/NASA/ARPA funded project. MYDL, via the Internet, will provide ready access to a broad range of information resources, from traditional books, magazines, and journals, to data sets, scientific instruments, computer-based research tools, and collaboration with peers and mentors. In addition, MYDL will feature tools to support students publishing their findings and tools to support teachers collaborating with fellow teachers. To insure accessibility, MYDL interfaces will be developed using Learner-Centered Design methodology. MYDL brings together, for the first time, a critical mass of diverse resource 'in one place' with an accessible interface. MYDL is also a complementary, comprehensive plan of action to sustain innovation. Technology per se is not enough. To sustain innovation requires considerable resources and resourcefulness. We propose working with participating schools to: (1) develop, deploy, and redesign model curriculum through investigatory projects that make integral use of the MYDL, (2) integrate into the classroom instructional practices that support investigation-based science learning (3) work with teachers to change their attitudes, beliefs, and practices from a more traditional didactic pedagogy to a more investigatory-based pedagogy, and (4) evaluate, on an ongoing basis MYDL and its impact on teaching and learning. The UM Collaboratory for Science Education has significant experience in creating thriving, technology-based education innovations. We will leverage these experiences to build the Middle Years Digital Library. We will extend UMDL, thus, only incremental support is needed to tailor MYDL to middle-school students and increase the kinds of 'collections' that are included. MYDL will provide a clear demonstration of the viability of electronic libraries and the extent to which such libraries will play a pivota l role in affording schools the opportunity to change and offer students and teachers the opportunity to develop a working science literacy.